These steps apply to pretty much anything, whether you want to memorize a verse from the Bible, your patriarchal blessing, the Gettysburg Address, the Proclamation on the Family, or a list of all the U.S. Presidents. Longer things do not required more intelligence, they just take more time.
1. Familiarize - After selecting what you want to memorize, simply read over the whole thing until you feel familiar with the material. I don't recommend memorizing something one sentence or paragraph at a time. Instead it is better to focus on the entire picture. This will give you a sense on how one thing leads to the next when there is no strong connection between the ideas. The alphabet is simply a series of random letters, but anyone can recite it because that's the order they sang it in as as a child.
To me, memorizing something is like bringing a picture into focus. You start out with a vague idea of it all. As you become familiar with it, everything will gradually grow clearer until you can feel confident that you know every word of it.
2. Abbreviate - On my mission, when memorizing scriptures, I would write the verses on the front of a card, and the first letter of each word on the back of the card. This helps your brain as you try to recall it with the help of the letters. With the help of technology, you don't have to write everything out by hand. I found this online First-Letter Memorizer which makes it easy. I just copy something in it, hit the button, and it spits out the first letter. I then copy it into something like Word, and print both versions out on the same page.
(This example is a joke/worst case senerio)
Work will win when wishy washy wishing won't. - Thomas S. Monson
W w w w w w w w. - T S. M
I like to fold it up and take it with me everywhere I go. This step can take the longest, but don't get frustrated. Don't be afraid to look at the full version if you get stuck for more than a couple seconds. Go through the whole thing every time. Do it at least a few time a day. It will get easier and easier. Once you get to the point where you can recite it with only the abbreviated version, it's time for the next step.
3. Gradually let go - Just like step 2, where you looked back at the original only when needed, with this step you just say it out loud and look at the original only when needed. The only difference is that you don't need the abbreviated version for this step. You can peak when you need to, but also try to stretch your brain. After a few days, no matter how long it is, you will have it mastered. At that point, recite it when you have the chance, like when you're driving alone in the car. This will help imprint it in you long term memory.
So class, to recap, all you have to do is familiarize yourself with it, recite it with the help of an abbreviated version, and then work on reciting it with as little help as possible. There are other methods out there, but this one has always worked for me.
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